LA Phil Pipe Organ Tribute — Happy Birthday, “Hurricane Mama”: Salonen, Saariaho & Sibelius
Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, CA)
The Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrates the 10th birthday of its magnificent pipe organ, fondly referred to as “Hurricane Mama,” with the always-welcome return of Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen and the U.S. premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s organ concerto Maan varjot (Earth Shadows). The award-winning Olivier Latry, the organist at none other than Paris’ Cathedral of Notre Dame, joins the party as the spotlighted soloist for a concert which also features works by Janacek and Sibelius — especially fitting, since the organ’s made out of Norwegian pine. A collaboration between architect Frank Gehry and L.A. organ designer Manuel Rosales, the instrument has another nickname –“French Fries” — thanks to the distinctive look of its pipes, which also contain Douglas-fir and lead and tin alloys.
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